NDA Nominee CP Radhakrishnan To Be India's Next Vice President

The post of VP has been vacant since July 22 following the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. Dhankhar resigned citing health issues. 

Voting in the VP elections are held through secret ballot by an electoral college comprising all members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha including those who are nominated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first to cast his vote in the vice presidential poll. He cast his vote before he left for the flood-ravaged Punjab and Himanchal Pradesh.    

No party is allowed to issue a whip for its members for voting. During the course of voting that took place through the day, Bhagwat Karad, BJP member of Parliament, while exuding confidence in favour of Radhakrishnan, said there was no chance of “cross voting” against the VP nominee. 

Interestingly, 10 MPs belonging to Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), one from SAD and two who are independent did not participate in the voting process. 

A total of 788 members make for the Electoral College -- 233 elected members of the Rajya Sabha along with 12 of its nominated members and 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha. However, five seats are currently vacant in the Rajya Sabha and one in Lok Sabha – making the total effective strength add up to 782. 

Radhakrishnan needed 50 per cent of the total votes. He received 452 votes while Reddy got 300. 

Radhakrishnan as VP will also be the chairman of the Upper House.  Radhakrishnan, who was the BJP chief for Tamil Nadu, was elected to Lok Sabha twice from Coimbatore. Prior to his appointment as Governor, Maharashtra in July 2024, he also served as Governor of Jharkhand. 

The voting for the post of VP went on till 5 pm on Tuesday.

As per norms, the Election Commission is mandated to initiate the process of electing a new VP within 30 day from the date of vacancy in the post. 

Dhankhar assumed the office of the Vice President of India in August 2022.